Wheel skate



June 21, 1927.

T. J. coNNoLLY WHEEL SKATE] Filed on, -22. 192s Patented June 21, 1927.

THOMAS J. CONNOLLY, or TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOB. To THE 111mm 'MAneFAcTnRiNG COMPANY, or TOLEDO, OHIO, -A:-OORPORATIN OF OHIO;

WHEEL sxATii.

Application filed October .22, 1925. SerialNo. 64,088.

My invention has for its object to provide an eflicient wheel skate that may be made at a low cost of production and is so constructed as to-be light in weight on the foot. The invention also has for its Object to provide a means for cushioning the skateso that the shocks caused by irregularities of the surface over which the skate is moved will be quite entirely absorbed and hence will not be transmitted to the foot ofthe one usin'gthe skate. The invention also has for its Object to provide a means whereby the natural movement of the skate will be controlled by the direction of the resultant of the pressuresthat are brought to bear on the skate so that the movement of the skate is controlled by the balance 7 of the user of the skate whereby the skate will be caused to curve either inward or outward asmay be desired and with curvatures that may be modified as may be desired by the skater.

The invention may be contained in cycle, roller or wheel skates of diifereiit forms and to illustrate a practical application of the invention I have selected a skatethat contains the invention as anillustration of skates that embody the invention, and shall describe it hereinafter. The skate selected as illustrative of skates containing m. in-v ventio'n shown in the accompanying{rawing.

Figure-1 is a side View of the wheel skate. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a section taken on the plane of the line 2 2 indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlargedview of a sectiontaken on the plane of the line -3.3 indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. t is anenlarged broken view showing the bottom of the rear portion of the skate. r

The skate is provided with the usual main supporting plate 1. The wheels 2 are connected to the plate 8 which is adjustably connectedto the plate 1 bymeans of the thumb screw 4 and the slots 5 formed in the plates 1 and 3. The wheels 2 are connected to the bar 6 and are rotatably supported thereon by means of the ball bearings 7 which permit substantially free rotation of the wheels 2 with respect to the skate. The plate 3 is provided with depending ears 8 in which the bar 6 is secured. The bar 6 is located, preferably, beyond the ball of the foot, that is, preferably, beneath the base of the toes of the user of the skate which locates the wheels 2 in such a position that the resultant of the pressures brought to bear upon the skate by reason of theweight of the userof the skate, will extend through 3.1301111; :in the skate that is located well to the rear of the line joining the centers of. the wheels '2, that is, well to the rear of the axis of the bar I6, and the danger of being thrown forward is greatly eliminated notv' ithst'anding the fact that the wheel ".2 raises the height of the sole offlthe' foot above" the "surfacego've'r which the? skate is moved. Furthermore, this forward location enablesabetter stroke by reason of the fact that the toe of the foot may be used, in pro:

other skate of v the user. I

The skate is provided with the usualrear chair or. heel plate 9 and a strap" 10 may be used for securing th'e' jskate in position ducing the push forward in the stroke of the with. eference to foot. Clamps '11 of the typecommou'ly used .may be usedifor se} curing the skate; to the toefof the bobtjor shoe worn by the user of the. skate.

Beneath the center, of the heel wherethe maximum'pressure is produ'ced is located a rubber cushion 12. The rubber cushion 12 may be a cylindrical block of soft rubber that is connected to the supporting plate 1 by means of the pin 13. A lever 14: is pivotally connected to the frame plate 1 at a point well in advance of thejcen'ter of theheel. I The lever extends downward and inclines to polntf well to'the rear of the:

skate where it is connected to the wheel 15. Preferably two levers 14: are used and are pivotally connected to ears'161that are formed. integral with the plated. Theyare v pivotally connected to the'ears 16 by means oft-he-bolt 17. They-are alsopiVotaIlycohnected to the. stirrup 18 by means of the pins 19. The stirrup 18 supports the cashion 12whi'cli extends to a point beneath'the' .heel part of the plate 1 so that ,when the skate has been placed in position on thefoot of the wearer the major part of the pressure of the user of the skate is supported by the cushion 12 which elastically transmits the pressure to the stirrup 17 which is connected to substantially the center of the levers 14. The plate 1-is elastic and conse quently any shock that the wheel 15 may meet by reason of coming in contact with any impediment or slightly raised object or other obstruction will be absorbed by the compound cushioning effect produced by the nected to the stirrup 18 and the cylindrical block 12 having a considerable length comlever acting through the elasticity of the;

plate, particularly, that portion in the vi- .cinity of the ears 16 to which the levers are connected, and the cushioning cylindrical rubber block. The arrangement; thus proared to its diameter, the levers 14 will be ocated at a point considerably below, relatively speaking, the plate 1 at the point where theyare connected with the stirrup 18. Resilient rubber washers-24 are located on the bolt 17 and between the levers 14 and the cars 16. The elasticity of the plate 1 and the washers 24 enable the skate to be tilted slightly with reference to the surface over which it is moved which causes I the wheel to be changed at a very slight angle from the longitudinal axis of the skate. Wh'en, therefore, the user 1 desires to curve to the right, when gliding or moving on the right skate, he will by 5' throwinghis weight a little to the right of thelongitudinal axis of the skate cause the wheel 15 to shift towards the right side of the longitudinal axis an exceedingly short distance and thus cause the skate to curve. This curvature may vbe increased ac cording to the angle to which the leg ofthe' user is moved relative to the surface over which he is gliding. The same is true with an in-curve whereby fancy strokes or straight away strokes finishing wlth an outcurve may be used. The latter stroke permits long glides and enables the skater to finish in a natural way to position his foot so. that he can produce an, effective push from the toe in making the subsequent stroke withtheother skate, By the lever connection as between therear wheel 15, the

. cushionedfulcrum of thelevers and the resilient connection between the levers and the skate supporting plate, I have provided notonly a shock absorbing means, but a means whereby the skate may eff ciently manipulated and used with ease through along 1 period of time without causing undue tiring while skating. r

. I claim:

1. In. a wheel skate, apair of wheels connected to the skate and located under the forward part of the skate, a Wheel, a lever pivotally connected to the last named Wheel and to the skate at a pointintermediate the ends of the skate, the lever projecting rearw'ardlybeyond the heel of the skate so as to locate the pivot of the last named wheel to the rear of the heel of theskate, a cushion means located intermediate the lever andthe skate, for resiliently connecting' the last namedwheel tort-hesitate at a point well to the rear of the skate.

2. In a wheel skate, a main resilient supporting plate, a pair of wheels connected to the skate and located under the forward part of the skate, awhe el, a lever pivotally connected to the resilient supporting plate at a point intermediate the point of connection of the first named wheels andthe heel of the skate and pivotally connected tothe last named wheel, a cushion means located below the heel of the skate and intermediate .the lever and. the skate and'between the pivot points ofconnection of the lever with the resilient plate and the last named wheel for resiliently. supporting the rear end of the skate. V r 3. Ina wheelskate, a; main resilient supporting plate, a pair of wheels connected to the skate and located under the forward part of the skate, a wheel, the center of the lastnamed wheel located well to the rear of vertical line passing through the rear end of the skate, a lever pivotally connected to the resilient supporting plate at a point intermediate the point of connection of the firstnamed wheels and the heel of the skate and pivotallyconnected tothe last named wheel.)

a cushion means locatedbelow the heel of the skate and intermediatethe lever and the skate and between the pivot points of con nectionjof the lever with the resilient plate and the last named wheel for resiliently supporting the rear end of the skate.

In test mony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS J. CONNOLLY. 

